Hybrid tea rose plant named &#39;MEIHYALFEU&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided that commonly commences blooming early in the season and forms abundantly and substantially continuously attractive ocher double blossoms which display a slight fragrance. The growth habit is semi-erect, and slight vegetation is formed. The vegetation is very dense and bears a glossy aspect on the upper surface that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The disease tolerance is very good particularly with respect to black spot. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Hybrid Tea Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meihyalfeu

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Hybrid Tea rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross of the ‘Meipsilon’ variety (non-patented in theUnited States) and ‘Golden Unicorn’ variety (non-patented in the UnitedStates). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Meironsse’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,496).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

(‘Meipsilon’×‘Golden Unicorn’)×‘Meironsse’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Hybrid Tea rose plant of the presentinvention:

(a) displays a semi-erect growth habit with very strong vegetation,

(b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractiveocher double blossoms which display a slight fragrance,

(c) exhibits very dense glossy dark green foliage that contrasts nicelywith the blossom coloration,

(d) displays very good disease tolerance particularly with respect toblack spot, and

(e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks andgardens.

The blooming tends to commence early in the season, during observationsto date.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage where attractive ornamentation is to beprovided.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, the ‘Meipsilon’ variety forms bicolored red-yellowblossoms, the ‘Golden Unicorn’ variety forms yellow edged withorange-red blossoms, and the ‘Meironsse’ variety forms darker IndianOrange edges with Capsicum Red blossoms.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France, has shown that the characteristics ofthe new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newvariety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meihyalfeu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observedduring September while growing outdoors on their own roots at Le Cannetdes Maures, Var, France. Standard color information is provided at thebottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two-year-old plants during September while growingoutdoors on their own roots at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Hybrid Tea.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—semi-erect.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146B. — adult            wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Thorns.—on young stems: — small prickles: quantity: commonly            none present. — long prickles: configuration: with an oval            base. quantity: approximately 6 on average on a stem length            of 10 cm. length: approximately 1.3 cm on average. color:            near Yellow-Green Group 146C. — on adult stems: — small            prickles: quantity: commonly none present. — long prickles:            configuration: with an oval base, upright on upper surface            and concave on the under surface. quantity: approximately 8            on average on a stem length of 10 cm. length: approximately            1.2 cm on average. color: near Greyed-Orange Group 164B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, rather broad, approximately 1.9            cm in length on average, approximately 0.7 cm in width on            average, near Yellow-Green Group 146D on the upper surface,            and near Yellow-Green Group 146D on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A in            coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B in            coloration. — length: approximately 3.1 cm on average for            the terminal leaflet. — texture: non-glandular on the upper            surface, and commonly without prickles on the under surface.        -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146D in            coloration.        -   Leaflets.—number 3, 5, 7 (most often), and 9. — shape:            generally oval with an cuspidate tip and an obuse base. —            size: the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 7 cm            in length on average and approximately 5.5 to 6 cm in width            on average. — edges: slightly denticulate. — serration:            small and single (as illustrated). — texture: physically            firm and leathery. — color (young foliage): upper surface:            near Yellow-Green Group 147A. under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 147B. — color (adult foliage): upper            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A. under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 147B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 1 to 3 blossoms            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—smooth, approximately 7 cm in length on average,            approximately 0.5 cm in diameter on average, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            148C in coloration. — under surface: smooth and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C to Yellow-Green Group 147D in            coloration. — shape: longish and narrow, and rounded at the            base. — size: approximately 1.7 to 2 cm in length on            average, and approximately 1 cm in width at the widest point            on average.        -   Buds.—shape: substantially conical. — size: large. — length:            approximately 2.5 cm on average. — width: approximately 2.5            cm at the widest point on average. — color as calyx breaks:            internal petals are near Yellow Group 17C on the upper            surface and near Yellow Group 13B suffused with near            Orange-Red Group 33C and 33D on the under surface, external            petals are near Yellow-Orange Group 15B suffused and            margined with near Yellow-Orange Group 19B on the upper            surface and near Yellow-Orange Group 15B and 15C suffused            with near Orange-Red Group 33D and margined with near            Yellow-Orange Group 19B on the under surface, and with a            spot at the base of near Yellow-Orange Group 15B on the            upper surface.        -   Flower.—shape: cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately 11 to            12 cm on average. — color (in the course of opening): upper            surface: internal petals are near Yellow-Orange Group 17C,            and external petals are near Yellow-Orange Group 15B            suffused and margined with near Yellow-Orange Group 19B.            under surface: internal petals are near Yellow Group 13B            suffused with near Orange-Red Group 33C and 33D, and            external petals are near Yellow-Orange Group 15B and 15C            suffused with near Orange-Red Group 33D and margined with            Yellow-Orange Group 19B. — color (open flower): upper side:            internal petals are near Yellow-Orange Group 17C and            external petals are near Yellow-Orange Group 15B suffused            and margined with Yellow-Orange Group 19B. under side:            internal petals are near Yellow Group 13B suffused with near            Orange-Red Group 33C and 33D and external petals are near            Yellow-Orange Group 15B and 15C suffused with near            Orange-Red Group 33D and margined with near Yellow-Orange            Group 19B. — fragrance: slight. — spot at base: near            Yellow-Orange Group 15B. — petal number: approximately 46 on            average under normal growing conditions. — petal shape: with            a substantially rounded tip and an obtuse base. — petal            texture: leathery and somewhat firm. — petal length:            approximately 4.5 cm on average. — petal width:            approximately 4.5 cm on average. — petal arrangement:            imbricated, and without petaloids. — petal drop: good with            the petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying. —            stamen number: approximately 94 on average. — anthers:            regularly arranged around the styles, approximately 1 mm in            size on average, and near Yellow-Orange Group 23B in            coloration. — filaments: approximately 6 mm in length on            average, and near Yellow-Orange Group 23B in coloration. —            pollen: none available for observation. — pistils:            approximately 68 on average. — stigmas: approximately 1 mm            in size on average, and near Red Group 45B in coloration. —            styles: approximately 4 mm in length on average, and near            Yellow Group 2D in coloration. — receptacle: smooth,            funnel-shaped in longitudinal section, approximately 1.2 cm            in length on average, approximately 1 cm in width on average            at the widest point, and near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—very strong.        -   Blooming.—early season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—very good particularly with respect            to black spot. The new ‘Meihyalfeu’ variety has not been            observed under all possible environmental conditions to            date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic            expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity            and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental            conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) displays a semi-erect growth habitwith very strong vegetation, (b) forms in abundance on a substantiallycontinuous basis attractive ocher double blossoms which display a slightfragrance, (c) exhibits very dense glossy dark green foliage thatcontrasts nicely with the blossom coloration, (d) displays very goodtolerance to disease particularly with respect to black spot, and (e) iswell suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens;substantially as shown and described.